# a Jewish Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971 "2001-09-26T19:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/1 "2001-09-26T19:22:59Z")
The lot next door is no longer empty. A house is built and I am about to have new neighbors. We have meet our neighbors a few times now and we really like them! They have mentioned that they are Jewish. so my Question is, is there a traditional house warming gift? I do like them so and would like to welcome them warmly. Do I wish them a Happy Yom Kipper? (sp?) thank you for your help. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/2 "2001-09-26T19:49:09Z")
A house warming gift is always nice, but not for any Jewish reason, just neighbrly. There’s certainly nothing Jewish _against_ a housewarming gift…just don’t give it to them on Saturdays. The traditional greeting for Yom Kippur is “Gmar Chasima Tova,” which, to paraphrase, is roughly, “Have a good and prosperous year”. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/3 "2001-09-26T19:51:29Z")
Y-o-m K-i-p-p- **u** -r. You’re welcome. Get them whatever housewarming gift you’d get Christian, atheist, Muslim, or whatever, neighbors. I suggest a couple of loaves of bread, perhaps a cake, or some fruit… (food is _always_ a good idea 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/4 "2001-09-26T19:52:28Z")
oh of course. I was just wondering if there was anything in specific to give. in some cultures, you give a broom… that sort of thing. see, like the saturday thing, I would have never known. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/5 "2001-09-26T19:55:45Z")
Yom Kippur is a very holy day, but it’s not a day of joyous celebration. To say “Happy Yom Kippur” would be like telling a Catholic “Happy Good Friday.” That is, you’d seem to be trivializing a very serious, somber event. After Rosh Hashanah, you can certainly wish Jewish friends “Happy New Year,” and there are numerous other holidays on which you can express merry thoughts or festive good wishes. Just don’t do it this time. I’m told that, at Yom Kippur, SOME Jews will offer each other wishes for an easy fast (observant Jews don’t eat for a full 24 hours at Yom Kippur)… but as a Catholic, I wouldn’t feel right about saying that. I think it’s PROBABLY best for us Gentiles not to offering any Yom Kippur greetings at all… but it would be neighborly of you to offer any assistance your Jewish friends might need during that day. After all, if they’re planning to spend a full day at the synagogue, you might be of some assistance running an errand or two for them, while they’re indisposed. In THIS case, such practical, neighborly help would probably be more appreciated than a clumsily worded Yom Kippur greeting. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/6 "2001-09-26T20:46:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\* > Do I wish them a Happy Yom Kipper? (sp?) > \*\* Wow! They have holidays for everything… atonement, TWO New Years, and one to celebrate smoked salted herring! (How do I make that little Hassidic smiley?) ---
**Author:** ![TheThill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheThill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheThill)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/7 "2001-09-26T21:03:45Z")
Wait a second. Did they say whether or not they are _religiously_ Jewish? If not, or even if so, I would just avoid all attempts at treating your neighbors any differently than you would anyone else. It can otherwise be quite embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/8 "2001-09-26T21:21:12Z")
Well, bread and salt is a traditional housewarming present ( [http://www.clickonjudaism.com/pages/FAQ\_jewishhome.html](http://www.clickonjudaism.com/pages/FAQ_jewishhome.html) ) practised in Eastern Europe and apparently the old West. But it’s a bit obscure nowadays, so unless you want the new neighbors to look at you strangely, I’d just wait until after Yom Kippur and give them a plate of cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/9 "2001-09-26T22:12:05Z")
They might have had an “ulterior motive” in announcing that they were Jewish. Maybe they just wanted to let you know that they were Jewish so that you wouldn’t invite them over for a big ham dinner or something. In a related anecdote: I knew a guy who was invited to a client’s house for dinner. The client’s wife called his wife to ask if they had any dietary restrictions. The guy’s wife said: “Unfortunately, we _do_ have to watch our cholesterol, and we don’t keep _strictly_ kosher…” And what was served? Chicken livers wrapped in bacon! :eek: (I really wish there was a barfing smiley.) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/10 "2001-09-26T22:14:39Z")
I don’t know if it considered proper form to receive one from a non-Jew, but (if they don’t have one) how about a about a Mezuzzah. When I was growing up all my friends of the Jewish faith had one of these on their door jamb. The Meaning of the Mezuzzah [http://www.beth-elsa.org/be\_s0202.htm](http://www.beth-elsa.org/be_s0202.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mirage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mirage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirage)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/11 "2001-09-26T22:23:49Z")
I’d have to agree with **TheThrill** and recomend that you give them a traditional housewarming gift, the kind that you’d like to recieve yourself. You are a product of your own cultural background and so any gift that you give reflecting that would only serve to express your sincerity. A little background is good as you probably don’t want to offer them bacon (mmmm, bacon) but if they’re anything like most of the people that I’ve met they’d probably appreciate the intension behind your act over any cultural translations that you would try to make in their favor. ---
**Author:** ![NadaHappyCamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@NadaHappyCamper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NadaHappyCamper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/12 "2001-09-26T22:34:21Z")
Yom Kippur is the “Day of Attonement.” I do not think it would actually be proper to wish them anything on that day.It is the Highest of the High Holy Days.It is the Day a Jewish person is to ask forgivness for sins comitted during the past year. Rosh Hashanah is the start of the new Jewish Year. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/13 "2001-09-26T22:59:03Z")
If you feel it’s appropriate to get them a housewarming gift, why not get them a secular one – something like a house plant? I don’t think they’d necessarily want a “Jewish” gifts just because they’re Jewish any more than a Catholic family would want or expect a “Catholic” gift (a Blessed Virgin Mary nightlight, maybe?). Just don’t get them anything you _know_ they wouldn’t appreciate. Like, say, a baked ham. Oh, and I’ve always been told that wishing a Jew “Happy Yom Kippur” is like wishing a Christian “Happy Crucifixion.” Even if kindly meant, it does reflects pretty deep ignorance of their religion. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/14 "2001-09-27T00:19:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > **If you feel it’s appropriate to get them a housewarming gift, why not get them a secular one – something like a house plant?** Yeah, why don’t you get them wandering Jew? ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/15 "2001-09-27T01:34:21Z")
I wouldn’t give them a Mezuzah because there are strict requirements on its kashrut. Then again, they may not be very observant. Also, if they are observant, then you kind of should watch out what food products you give them – if they keep kosher then the best bet is just to go down to the nearest kosher bakery and buy the cookies, as the dietary laws are quite stringent and would prevent one from eating any food prepared in a non-kosher kitchen. I always give houseplants. I second the idea. Even if it is a wandering jew – a pretty plant which is nearly impossible to kill. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/16 "2001-09-28T06:58:57Z")
While “Happy Yom Kippur” isn’t a common greeting in either English or Hebrew, it should be noted that according to the Rabbis, Yom Kippur is one of the two happiest days of the year. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/17 "2001-09-28T12:14:10Z")
Agreeing with most of what’s been said already, a secular welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift, like a houseplant, is always very nice. Unless you know the degree of their observance, I would opt against the plate of cookies that someone suggested, though. If they keep kosher, they would not be able to eat the cookies. I would also avoid giving them a “Jewish” gift like a mezzuzah – they would already have one that suits them, or their Jewish friends will provide them. Just as, you wouldn’t bring a rosary icon if they were Catholic and you were not. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/18 "2001-09-28T15:50:01Z")
A quick chime-in while seconding the stuff said above: If **your** culture has a traditional housewarming gift (like a broom) you may want to go with that. Explain to your new neighbors how the gift fits in with your culture. As long as it’s not something that is overtly religious (or an inappropriate food item) you might enjoy some interesting cultural exchange. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/19 "2001-09-28T16:06:30Z")
In a school of 2000 kids, there were 20 Jews. So I had plenty of experience with neighbors worrying about what gifts and greetings to give. Just think of what housewarming present you’d usually give, then check to be sure it doesn’t violate any of the laws governing Jewish life. If you’re curious as to apropriate greetings, you may be able to check out a greeting card rack. While cards for Jewish holidays were scarce in VA, there everywhere here in Philadelphia. Finally, just relax. Anytime some neighbor wished me a happy “hankaka”, I thanked them and gently corrected their pronunciation. As long as people can see that you’re trying to be friendly and respect their faith, any mistake you make will be seen as just that. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971/20 "2001-09-28T16:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmkeller \* > \*\*The traditional greeting for Yom Kippur is “Gmar Chasima Tova,” which, to paraphrase, is roughly, “Have a good and prosperous year”. \*\* I would like to gently, respectfully suggest that Jews drop the spelling “ch” to transliterate the Hebrew letter _Heth_ (the 8th letter of the Hebrew alphabet) and also _kaph_ (the 11th letter). The reason why is that the OP, obviously unfamiliar with Hebrew, is likely to read “chasima” with the English ch sound of “church” or “chocolate,” making for embarrassment when mispronouncing it before the Jewish neighbors. I have seen this happen again and again. The “ch” spelling is a holdover from German. In German, “ch” represents the velar fricative. Most of the early Jewish immigrants to America came from Germany, right? Also, German scholars were the leaders in Biblical Hebrew study in the 19th century so they had a large influence. The 19th century German Jewish community is long gone. Most Americans nowadays have no idea of German spelling. It would be less confusing to use “H” or “kh” to spell that velar sound. Isn’t it about time American Jews cut ties with Germany, anyway? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-jewish-question/83971.md?page=2)